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In San Francisco, plenty of ethnic street food specialties have come to the forefront, thanks to the proliferation of food trucks. The arepa is one that's gotten a lot of recent publicity.

The cornmeal flatbreads known as arepas are native to the countries of Colombia and Venezuela (although they are also found elsewhere, such as in Panama). They're made of ground corn, water, and salt, either grilled, baked, or fried, and then stuffed with a filling.

Arepa fillings vary widely depending on region and circumstance, but may include chicken and avocado, cheese and pulled meat, beans, plantains, or eggs. Have you ever tried arepas?

Source: Flickr User arnold | inuyaki

In the '60s, the space age sitcom The Jetsons toyed with the image of a family of four flying around in the sky in a futuristic automobile. No one believed such a day would come. But, folks, we're almost there. Now some lucky citizens like Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban who live in luxury high-rise buildings have what's called an "en-suite sky garage." The tricked-out feature is essentially a garage meets giant elevator, accessed from the street. After driving their luxury automobile of choice into a private driveway, the prosperous peeps drive directly into a key-lock elevator that lifts their vehicle up to the same level as their apartment. After opening their car door, they're simply steps away from their very own living room. No run-ins with prying neighbors in the hallway or dodging paparazzi in the lobby necessary.

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They may sound similar, but don't confuse satay with sauté.

Satay is a Southeast Asian dish of meat that's been marinated and seasoned (often with turmeric), skewered, grilled over a fire, and served with a sauce for dipping. The delicacy is extremely popular in Indonesia, as well as neighboring countries Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, where it's served everywhere from street carts to high-end restaurants. Variations may contain every type of meat from chicken and beef to turtle and mutton, as well as offal.

Satay can also come with a wide range of accompanying dipping sauces, including peanut gravy, soy-based condiments, pineapple sauce, and cucumber relish. Have you ever made satay?

Source: Flickr User avlxyz

If you're in a Middle Eastern market, you might come across dukkah (sometimes spelled duqqa), an Egyptian blend of toasted nuts, spices, and herbs.

The ingredient assortment is widely based on personal preference, but often includes toasted hazelnuts or chickpeas as a nut base, along with spices (such as coriander, cumin, sesame seeds, or za'atar). The mixture is ground together to form a coarse powder.
The powder is then used as a seasoning (for lamb stew), a dip (along with olive oil for pita or bread), a crunchy coating for baking protein, or a topping on salads. Have you ever tried dukkah?

Source: Flickr User jules:stonesoup

Also known as calaminta, nepitella is an herb that grows wild in Italy, particularly in Tuscany and Umbria. The plant's green leaves have a strong, distinctive flavor that's described as a cross between mint and oregano. Nepitella is used on just about anything savory, from roasts to mushrooms.

We spotted it on the menu in San Francisco at new restaurant Zero Zero, where it's being used to add flair to wood-fired pizzas.
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